ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Three people have been charged in the death of a toddler after she ingested fentanyl inside their home.
On Nov. 12, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged Lori Garrett, 49, with one count each of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child resulting in the death of a child, abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Garrett is being held on a $250,000 cash-only bond.
On Nov. 16, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged Amanda Tufts, 35, and James Collins, 25, with one count each of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child resulting in the death of a child and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child creating a substantial risk.
Tufts and Collins are being held without bond.
On Nov. 11, patrol officers from the St. Louis County North County Precinct responded to the 200 block of Northport Hills Drive just outside of Florissant for a sick case.
Officers found 21-month-old Lilinna Leak inside the residence in medical distress and unconscious. The child was then transported to a local hospital and a drug screening came back positive for fentanyl, according to a probable cause statement.
The child was pronounced dead shortly after 7 p.m.
According to St. Louis County detectives, investigators found large amounts of drug paraphernalia, powder residue, capsules and firearms in the home.
Garrett, Tufts and Collins made statements to detectives saying they knew the girl had ingested fentanyl on Nov. 10 and did not seek medical attention, according to the probable cause statement.
One neighbor said everyone at the apartment complex adored the child they called “Lilly.”
“She was so sweet, nice and loving,” she said. “Every time I saw her, she’d say, ‘Hi’ and when we all left, I loved hearing her say, ‘Bye, bye. Have a nice day.’”
The woman now tears up because her little neighbor is tragically gone.
“It hurt me so bad. I just can’t believe it. She was with those people every day. She and her little sister looked like twins,” she said.
Tony Cook, a contractor, was painting the family’s building at the time when he said he heard the child crying.
“I heard like mocking of the baby crying like another adult woman crying along with her and then I heard no, no, no. Terrible thing man. I love kids,” Cook said.
A second toddler found in the home was evaluated by EMS and is in good health, according to police.
St. Louis County detectives from the Bureau of Crimes Against Persons are investigating the incident.
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